The Effects of Ethnicity on Evacuation Decision-Making

March 1991 (VOL. 9, NO. 1)

This paper develops a single stage theoretical model that examines the impact of citizen ethnicity on evacuation warning compliance. Three ethnic groups are examined: blacks, whites, and Mexican-Americans. Other independent variables in the model include risk perception, possession of an adaptive plan, warning content, warning confirmation, income, and warning source credibility. The model is tested on data from a flood and a hazardous materials incident. In both events, it was found that respondent ethnicity and income had small and statistically nonsignificant effects upon warning compliance. Perceived risk was the best predictor of compliance in each data set. Ethnic group differences were detected in terms of the specific sources identified as most credible and in terms of the first source contacted for warning confirmation.